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We Paint... the Springs Conference - Home
September 21-23, 2012
We Paint…the Springs, a weekend watercolor conference at the beautiful French Lick Resort, offers classes and workshops that will inspire and instruct beginning to advanced artists. Presented by the Bloomington Watercolor Society in cooperation with Ivy Tech Community College Bloomington, “We Paint…the Springs” is open to all painters interested in watermedia.
Saturday Sessions For beginning watercolor artists
Saturday will be a full day of interactive demonstrations on watercolor tools and techniques. Each participant will create several small paintings during the day. Paint, paper, and brushes will be provided. If you’ve ever wanted to learn watercolor, this workshop is a great way to “give it a try.”
For intermediate and advanced painters
Saturday offers options of three educational sessions in the morning. In the afternoon, artists may choose from two three-hour workshops led by professional Hoosier watercolor artists. William “Bill” Borden (www.wbordenwatercolors.com) offers a session on painting landscapes en plein air and Cathy Hillegas (www.cathyhillegas.com) will teach the art of painting glowing florals. See Featured Artists.
Sunday Paint Out
(Photography by Kathy Truelove-Barton)
Sunday will feature a plein air Paint Out for artists in all watermedia. Judging will take place in two categories, beginning/intermediate and advanced/ professional. Beginners are offered a “guided paint out,” led by a professional artist experienced in plein air painting. Participants may choose to paint at any outdoor location that is part of the resort community. Artists may also choose to paint without submitting their paintings for judging. Prizes will be awarded. The judging will begin at 2 p.m., and prizes will be awarded at 3 p.m. You may register for just the Sunday paint out competition. Download the Guidelines/rules for the Paint Out competition here or view them online here.
The Conference Gallery
The Conference Gallery, which is open to the public on Sunday, will offer an exhibit of paintings for sale by the conference featured artists, BWS Signature members, and workshop instructors. If you would like to preview the types of work that the Signature members create go to the BWS Member Gallery.
You may download the conference brochure with registration form here or you may go to ivytech.edu/cll, to download the Spring 2012 Course Catalog, and turn to pages 8 and 9; or call the Center for Lifelong Learning at 812-330-6041.
About Bloomington Watercolor Society
BWS fulfills its mission to “promote a growing relationship with artists, to encourage one another, and provide opportunities exhibiting watercolor paintings in the community,” through educational programs at monthly meetings, mini and professional workshops, and youth outreach sessions. In six years, BWS has hosted 16 gallery exhibits of member artists’ work. The most recent project, “We Paint…Parks,” was a yearlong collaborative effort with Bloomington Entertainment and Arts District (BEAD) and Bloomington Parks and Recreation to create a show featuring the 45 parks and sites within the city.
BWS membership climbed to nearly 100 in 2011 and includes artists of all skill levels, from the very beginner to the seasoned professional, as well as many art teachers and instructors. Membership is open to everyone who enjoys the medium of watercolor.